Integrated C+L band ROADM architecture

Abstract

An integrated C+L band Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer, ROADM, node ( 10 B, 10 C, 10 D) supporting integrated C and L band functionality includes one or more ROADM modules ( 20 CL, 20 CLQ) each including a demultiplexer Wavelength Selective Switch, WSS, ( 102 ) having a common receive input and a plurality of output ports, a multiplexer WSS ( 104 ) having a plurality of input ports and a common transmit output, wherein, each of the demultiplexer WSS ( 102 ) and the multiplexer WSS support ( 104 ) both the C band and L band in an integrated manner, a plurality of amplifiers ( 106, 108, 11, 112, 114, 116 ) that each connect to one of the demultiplexer WSS ( 102 ) and the multiplexer WSS ( 104 ), and line ports including a transmit port ( 50 T) and a receive port ( 50 R) that connect to the plurality of amplifiers ( 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 ).

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) node supporting integrated C and L band functionality, the ROADM node comprising:
 one or more ROADM modules each including
 a demultiplexer Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) having a common receive input and a plurality of output ports, 
 a multiplexer WSS having a plurality of input ports and a common transmit output, wherein, each of the demultiplexer WSS and the multiplexer WSS support both the C band and L band in an integrated manner, 
 a plurality of amplifiers that each connect to one of the demultiplexer WSS and the multiplexer WSS, and 
 line ports including a transmit port and a receive port that connect to the plurality of amplifiers. 
   
     
     
         15 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of amplifiers two pre amplifiers and two post amplifiers, each amplifier supporting one of the C band and L band. 
     
     
         16 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of amplifiers include one pre amplifier and one post amplifier, each amplifier supports both the C band and L band. 
     
     
         17 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ROADM modules further include
 an Optical Service Channel (OSC) located between the plurality of amplifiers and the line ports.   
     
     
         18 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ROADM modules further include an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) located between the plurality of amplifiers and the line ports. 
     
     
         19 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ROADM modules further include
 a plurality of Optical Channel Monitors (OCMs) connected to the plurality of amplifiers.   
     
     
         20 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ROADM modules further include
 one or more channel multiplexers/demultiplexers connected to the plurality of output ports and the plurality of input ports.   
     
     
         21 . The ROADM node of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more channel multiplexers/demultiplexers support channels from both the C band and the L band on the plurality of output ports and the plurality of input ports. 
     
     
         22 . The ROADM node of  claim 20 , wherein the integrated C and L band functionality includes support for both the C band and the L band on all ports associated with the one or more ROADM modules and the one or more channel multiplexers/demultiplexers. 
     
     
         23 . The ROADM node of  claim 20 , further comprising
 one or more fiber interconnection modules between the one or more ROADM modules and the one or more channel multiplexers/demultiplexers.   
     
     
         24 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more ROADM modules further include
 a second demultiplexer WSS and a second multiplexer WSS.   
     
     
         25 . The ROADM node of  claim 14 , wherein the integrated C and L band functionality includes support for both the C band and the L band on all ports associated with the one or more ROADM modules. 
     
     
         26 . A multiplexer/demultiplexer module for a Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) comprising:
 a plurality of local add/drop ports;   degree ports; and   multiplexer/demultiplexer components interconnecting the plurality of local add/drop ports to the degree ports, supporting at least two bands of spectrum.   
     
     
         27 . The multiplexer/demultiplexer module of  claim 26 , wherein the at least two bands of spectrum include the C band and the L band. 
     
     
         28 . The multiplexer/demultiplexer module of  claim 26 , wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer components support colorless/directionless/contentionless functionality. 
     
     
         29 . The multiplexer/demultiplexer module of  claim 26 , wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer components include a contentionless wavelength selective switch (CWSS). 
     
     
         30 . The multiplexer/demultiplexer module of  claim 26 , wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer components include a M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS). 
     
     
         31 . A degree in a Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) comprising:
 ROADM components including a line port and a plurality of connection ports;   channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components including degree ports and local add/drop ports; and   wherein all ports in between the ROADM components and the channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components include integrated C band and L band functionality.   
     
     
         32 . The of  claim 31 , wherein the integrated C band and L band functionality includes the channel multiplexer/demultiplexer components being separate for the C band and L band functionality and one or more band splitters prior to the plurality of connection ports. 
     
     
         33 . The of  claim 31 , wherein the ROADM components include a Wavelength Selective Switches (WSS) that supports integrated C-band and L-band functionality.